On December 11 and 12, 2023, Mr. Pan Qingjiang, Consul General of China in Johannesburg, visited Free State Province.He met with Zanele Sifuba, the speaker of the Provincial Legislature, Gadija Brown，MEC for Finance, and Thabo Meeko, MEC for Economic Development.He also visited local Chinese communities in Free State.

Consul General Pan briefed the Speaker and the two MECs about China-South Africa relations and China's exchanges with Free State. He said that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa, and during the 25 yearsthe cooperation in various fields between the two countries has achieved fruitful outcomes. The Consulate General is committed to work with all sectors in Free State, strengthen communication and cooperation, jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two Heads-of-State during President Xi Jinping's state visit, and strive to promote the development of friendly relations and pragmatic cooperation between relevant provinces and cities in China and Free State. The Free State leaders warmly welcomed Consul General Pan on assuming his new post and spoke highly of China-South Africa relations. They expressed that the Provincial Legislature and the Government of Free State have always been friendsof China and have maintained close contact and cooperation with relevant provinces and cities in China. They hoped to further develop relations with China and deliver more benefits for the people on both sides.

Consul General Pan also briefed them about the vision and practice of China’s path to modernization as well as the outcomes of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, saying that China is willing to share China's development opportunities with the international community including South Africa, and work together to build the Belt and Road with high quality. The Free State leaders praised China's development achievements and expressed their willingness to learn from China and strengthen the synergy between the province's development plan and the Belt and Road initiative.

Consul General Pan visited the Free State Fujian Overseas Chinese Association and the Free SateChinese Community and Police Co-operation Center and held discussions with local Chinese representatives. He made an introduction to China’s development and China-South Africa relations andfully acknowledged the contributions of thelocal Chinese communities and leaders in Free State to China-South Africa friendship, hoping that they will continue to give more back to local society, carry forward the affection for the home country, and make more endeavour to the building of a harmonious and safe local Chinese community, the peaceful reunification and great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the friendship and cooperation between China and South Africa. The local Chinese thanked the Consulate General for its care and support and expressed that they would continue to work hard and live up to the above expectations.